House approves $26.9 billion FY08 state budget

Wednesday

May 2, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 2, 2007 at 2:19 AM

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on eight roll calls from the week of April 23-27. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. All of the House roll calls are from debate on the estimated $26.9 billion fiscal 2008 budget.

BEACON HILL ROLL CALL

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on eight roll calls from the week of April 23-27. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. All of the House roll calls are from debate on the estimated $26.9 billion fiscal 2008 budget.$26.9 billion fiscal 2008 state budget (H 4000) - House 156-0, unanimously approved and sent to the Senate an estimated $26.9 billion fiscal 2008 state budget. The price tag grew by an estimated $200 million during five days of debate. An estimated $25 million in the budget is for local “pet” projects in legislators’ districts. Most of the work was done behind the scenes and only a handful of controversial amendments were debated on the House floor. Individual representatives filed dozens of amendments on the same general subject matters including local aid, social services and the environment. They were then invited to “subject meetings” at which they pitched their amendments to Democratic leaders who drafted “consolidated amendments” that were brought to the House floor for consideration. All of these consolidated amendments were easily approved. On the tax reduction front, House Democrats successfully defeated Republican efforts including ones to create a tax amnesty program; exempt cities and towns’ vehicle fuel purchases from the state’s 23.5 cents per gallon gas tax; exempt the purchase of energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs from the state’s five percent sales tax; make it easier for seniors older than 65 to qualify for the state’s “senior circuit breaker tax credit” and extend for another year the 2005 law that provides tax relief to consumers who are facing the skyrocketing price of heating their homes. Supporters said the $26.9 billion budget is a fiscally responsible and balanced one and increases local aid and education aid and funds important programs without raising taxes. No one voted against the budget but critics say the budget does not offer any tax relief, includes wasteful spending, too much money for favored “pork” projects in favored legislators’ districts and insufficient local aid. They also argued too much of the work took place behind closed doors rather than on the House floor. (A “Yes” vote is for the budget).

Rep. Lida Harkins Yes

Uphold House Speaker’s ruling barring an amendment increasing local aid (H 4000) - House 136-19, voted strictly along party lines and upheld the Democratic speaker’s ruling that a Republican-sponsored amendment is out of order because it increases more than 80 communities’ Chapter 70 education aid by a total of $15.7 million. The House a few weeks ago adopted an order prohibiting any amendments to section three of the fiscal 2008 budget - a section that allocates specific amounts of local aid, including Chapter 70 education aid, to cities and towns. The GOP-sponsored amendment attempted to get around that prohibition by proposing an amendment to the budget’s section two which allocates the total amount of Chapter 70 education aid to all cities and towns but does not allocate the specific amount for each community. The local aid distribution in the House budget is based on the Legislature’s formula that differs from Gov. Deval Patrick’s formula and provides more than 80 cities and towns with less than they expected to receive under the governor’s formula. Supporters of the speaker’s ruling said that the GOP is being “cute” by using a technicality to attempt to get around the prohibition on proposing local aid amendments. They noted the Legislature two weeks ago approved resolutions indicating how much local aid cities and towns would receive. They argued it is important for communities to know now how much local aid they will receive and argued if local aid amendments to the budget are allowed and approved, communities would not know how much aid they would receive until several weeks from now when the House and Senate agree on a final version of the budget. Opponents of the speaker’s ruling said the GOP amendment is clearly related to section two and not section three. They argued it is undemocratic and restrictive to prohibit members from offering increases in local aid. They noted the increase in local aid would help communities receiving less under the legislative formula than they were promised under the governor’s formula. (A “Yes” vote supports the speaker’s ruling prohibiting consideration of the amendment increasing local aid by $15.7 million. A “No” vote is against the speaker’s ruling and favors allowing consideration of the amendment).

Rep. Lida Harkins Yes

Tax amnesty program (H 4000) - House 19-136, voted strictly along party lines and rejected a Republican-sponsored amendment creating a tax amnesty program that waives penalties for taxpayers who voluntarily file an overdue tax return or pay a delinquent tax liability within a two-month period between Oct. 1 and Dec. 3 of this year. The program does not waive the tax itself or the interest. Amendment supporters said this program would generate millions of dollars in increased tax revenue the state can use to balance the budget and fund important programs. They noted the state in 2002 implemented a similar program that raised $173 million. Amendment opponents said no one has offered any estimates of how much an amnesty program would bring in this year. They argued frequent adoption of an amnesty program would be counterproductive and become something that is expected by taxpayers. (A “Yes” vote is for the tax amnesty. A “No” vote is against the tax amnesty).

Rep. Lida Harkins No

Gas tax exemption for cities and towns (H 4000) - House 20-135, voted mostly along party lines and rejected an amendment exempting cities and towns’ vehicle fuel purchases from the 21 cents-per-gallon gas tax. One Democrat voted with GOP legislators in favor of the exemption. Amendment supporters said the exemption would save cities and towns an estimated $10 million that they could use to make up for insufficient local aid from the state. They argued this would simply replace the current system under which communities pay the gas tax to the state, which then distributes the revenue to communities in the form of Chapter 90 money for road and bridge repairs. Some amendment opponents said the proposal is misguided and does nothing more than rob Peter to pay Paul by taking money away from one local aid program and giving it to another. Others argued these tax proposals do not belong in the budget and should be considered as separate legislation that goes through the committee process including public hearings. (A “Yes” vote is for exempting cities and towns’ fuel purchases from the 21 cents per gallon gas tax. A No” vote is against the exemption).

Rep. Lida Harkins No

Exempt purchase of energy efficient light bulbs from sales tax (H 4000) - House 19-135, voted strictly along party lines and rejected a GOP-sponsored amendment exempting the purchase of energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs from the state’s 5 percent sales tax. Amendment supporters said this exemption would encourage consumers to replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient fluorescent ones. They noted the use of the new bulbs would help the environment and also reduce the demand and cost of electricity. Some amendment opponents said House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has filed far-reaching energy legislation and urged members to wait and act on a comprehensive policy rather than individual proposals. Others noted consumers already pay electric companies a fee that encourages and provides incentives for energy conservation measures. (A “Yes” vote is for exempting the purchase of energy efficient bulbs from the state’s five percent sales tax. A “No” vote is against the exemption).

Rep. Lida Harkins No

Delay tax relief for seniors over 65 (H 4000) - House 135-19, voted strictly along party lines and approved a Democratic-sponsored amendment delaying a Republican-sponsored proposal that makes it easier for seniors over 65 to qualify for the state’s “senior circuit breaker tax credit.” The delaying amendment prohibits the Republican proposal from taking effect until the Department of Revenue studies and furnishes a report on the economic impact of the proposal. The study would be required to include the revenue cost to the state and local communities, a distributional analysis showing the impact on taxpayers of varying income levels, any anticipated change in employment and ancillary economic activity. Current law offers up to an $870 state income tax credit for qualified seniors with homes valued under $684,000 and whose income is not more than $46,000 for a single filer or $70,000 for joint filers. The credit is equal to the amount by which the seniors’ annual property tax, including water and sewer charges, is more than 10 percent of their total income. The GOP proposal allows 50 percent of the homeowner’s heating costs to be considered as part of the real estate taxes. Supporters of the study said it would simply allow accurate estimates of the costs and impact and noted it is irresponsible to expand eligibility for a tax credit without knowing the consequences. Opponents of the study said it would unfairly delay the eligibility for many seniors who do not currently qualify. They argued the requirements of the study are complicated and designed to make it difficult to complete. The roll call vote is on the amendment to study the increased eligibility. (A “Yes” vote is for the study. A “No” vote is against the study and favors the increased eligibility).

Rep. Lida Harkins Yes

Winter heating assistance (H 4000) - House 19-134, voted strictly along party lines and rejected an amendment extending for another year the 2005 law that provides tax relief to consumers who are facing the skyrocketing price of heating their homes. The law allows up to an $800 tax deduction for the winter purchase of home heating oil and natural gas by individuals who earn less than $50,000 per year and families that earn less than $75,000. Another incentive provides up to a $600 tax credit to all taxpayers for the winter purchase of energy efficient residential home heating items including weather stripping, thermostats and energy efficient appliances, furnaces and boilers. Amendment supporters said extending the law for another year would promote energy efficiency and help millions of families deal with the skyrocketing cost of heating their homes. Some amendment opponents said the state cannot afford the up to $35 million loss in tax revenue that the extension would cause. Others said House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has filed important energy legislation and urged members to wait and act on a comprehensive policy rather than individual proposals. (A “Yes” vote is for extending the two tax credits for another year. A “No” vote is against the extension).

Rep. Lida Harkins No

Permanent sales tax holiday (H 4000) - House 19-133, voted strictly along party lines and rejected an amendment establishing an annual two-day permanent sales tax holiday in August that allows consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 without paying the state’s 5 percent sales tax. Amendment supporters said the holiday would be a boon to retailers and consumers and noted similar one-time tax-free holidays in 2004, 2005 and 2006 saved shoppers millions of dollars and resulted in a substantial increase in retail sales for the two days. They argued the state’s sales tax revenue loss would be offset by increased revenue from the meals and gas tax generated by shoppers. Some noted a permanent holiday would give consumers the opportunity to plan big purchases in advance and not have to sit around and see if the Legislature approves the holiday each year. Amendment opponents said it is fiscally irresponsible to approve a permanent holiday. They argued the Legislature should reserve the option to look at the state’s finances each year and then decide whether the state can afford a sales tax holiday. Some opponents said the holiday actually generates little additional revenue for stores because consumers would buy the products even without the tax-free days. (A “Yes” vote is for establishing an annual two-day permanent sales tax holiday in August. A “No” vote is against establishing it).

Rep. Lida Harkins No

Also up on Beacon Hill

Cops directing traffic (H 2312, H 2365) - The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on a proposal filed by private citizen Michael Chizy requiring police officers to wear white gloves while directing traffic. Also on the agenda was legislation filed by Rep. Elizabeth Poirier, R-North Attleboro, requiring these officers to wear red reflective gloves or a reversible sign containing the words “stop” and “go.”

Cops’ language (H 2384) - The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on legislation filed by Rep. Benjamin Swan, D-Springfield, prohibiting police, correctional officers, court officers and other law enforcement personnel from using racial slurs, profanity or language that “casts a negative reflection toward an individual’s race, color ethnic origin, religion, economic status or any other category of negative stereotyping.” The bill provides that any violation of this prohibition constitute grounds for dismissal of the officer.

Police and mentally ill (S 1378) - The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on legislation requiring all new police officer recruits to complete a training program to help them in their responses to incidents involving people with mental illnesses or retardation.

Non-smoking public housing (H 1203) - The Housing Committee held a hearing on a measure filed by Rep. Garrett Bradle, D-Hingham, requiring housing authorities to provide for non-smoking buildings in multi-building housing for the elderly. Non-smoking floors would be required in a single elderly housing facility.

Allow Town Meetings in June (H 1943) - The Committee on Municipalities held a hearing on a proposal filed by Rep. Denis Guyer, D-Dalton, allowing towns to hold their local elections and town meetings in June. The bill would expand a current law that allows these events to be held only in February, March, April or May.

Numbers on buildings (H 1974) - The Committee on Municipalities held a hearing on legislation filed by Rep. James Murphy, D-Weymouth, to set new uniform standards for the display of street address number on all public and private buildings in the state. Current law is broad and simply requires the numbers to be “of a nature and size and situated on the building so that, to the extent practicable, it is visible from the nearest street or road providing vehicular access to such building.” The bill requires that the numbers are of opposing color of the building and be at least “four inches tall, six inches above the front entry way or no more than six inches to the right of the front entry way and shall be located above the front door handle, to the extent practicable.” The measure also requires the numbers to be placed in clear view of the public or private way in the interest of fire and police protection and allows local cities and town to determine how the new requirements are implemented.

How long was last week’s session? - Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session.During the week of April 23-27, the House met for a total of 35 hours and seven minutes while the Senate met for a total of 23 minutes.